Kerala CM Oommen Chandy not to attend Modi’s swearing-in ceremony

Kerala Chief Minister Oommen Chandy will not attend the swearing-in ceremony of Narendra Modi as Prime Minister on Monday. Kerala is one of the few states where BJP could not win a single seat in the Lok Sabha elections.

The CM’s office said Chandy got the invitation, but he is not going for the event due to other engagements in Kerala. But, Chandy has sought time for a courtesy call on Modi on June 2. However, party sources said the decision to keep away from Modi’s swearing-in ceremony was mainly on political grounds.

BJP state president V Muraleedharan said, “Kerala CM should have attended the event as representative of the state. Chandy is not a mere Congress leader. He should be well aware of his role as representative of the entire state. This could have been an opportunity for Kerala Government to declare that state has no untouchability towards Modi government in Centre.”

Senior BJP leader O Rajagopal, who lost the elections, said Kerala does not have any right to demand for representation in Modi government since the state has failed to elect the party in the elections.